Dishwasher trim strip

ABSTRACT

A dishwasher trim strip is provided for covering the space between the front edge of the dishwasher and the side of adjacent cabinets. The trim strip includes a pair of spaced apart arms adapted to be slidably mounted onto the flange of the dishwasher tub, and a body adapted to be secured to the cabinet. The body of the trim strip allows the dishwasher to be mounted flush with the cabinet facia or flush with the cabinet doors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Dishwashers often are installed in an opening between cabinets in a kitchen. Since the width of the dishwasher is slightly less than the cabinet opening, a space or gap remains between the sides of the dishwasher and the cabinets. When the dishwasher door is open, the gap is visible, along with the normally unfinished sides of the cabinets and the exposed tub flange of the dishwasher. The gap thus yields an undesirable appearance.

[0002] Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a trim strip for use on a dishwasher to cover the gap between the dishwasher and cabinets on each side.

[0003] Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a dishwasher trim strip which allows for adjustable positioning of the dishwasher within a cabinet opening.

[0004] Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a dishwasher trim strip which accommodates different sized gaps between the cabinets and the dishwasher.

[0005] A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a dishwasher trim strip having a resilient seal for sealing with the dishwasher door when the door is closed.

[0006] Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a dishwasher trim strip which can be quickly and easily installed.

[0007] Another objective of the present invention is the provision of trim strip which is slidably mounted on the tub flange of the dishwasher and secured to the sides of the cabinets so that the dishwasher is mounted to the sides of the cabinets.

[0008] A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a trim strip for a dishwasher which allows the dishwasher to be mounted flush with the cabinet facia or flush with the cabinet door and drawer fronts.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a dishwasher trim strip which is economical to manufacture and durable in use.

[0010] These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A trim strip is provided for a dishwasher to cover the gap between the dishwasher and the adjacent cabinets. The trim strip includes an elongated body portion having opposite forward and rearward edges, and a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the body portion to slidably mount onto the tub flange of the dishwasher. The body portion is then screwed to the sides of the cabinets so as to cover the gap between an adjacent cabinet and the dishwasher and securely mount the dishwasher within the cabinet opening. The trim strip includes a resilient seal adapted to sealingly engage the door when the door is in the closed position so as to enhance sound proofing of the dishwasher. The trim strip accommodates various width gaps on the sides of the dishwasher, and allows the dishwasher to be mounted flush with the cabinet facia or the cabinet door fronts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a view of a dishwasher installed in an opening between cabinets, with the door of the dishwasher opened to show the trim strip of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the trim strip

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the trim strip.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a view of an alternative embodiment of a reversible trim strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] A dishwasher is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in the drawings.

[0018] The dishwasher 10 is mounted in an opening or cavity between kitchen cabinets 12 and beneath a kitchen countertop 14. Due to the tolerance between the cabinet cavity and the dishwasher 10, a space or gap 16 normally exists between the sides of the cabinets 12 and the dishwasher 10, as best seen in FIG. 2.

[0019] The present invention is directed towards a trim strip 18 used to cover the gap 16. More particularly, the trim strip 18 includes a body 20 defined by first and second legs 22, 24 respectively. A pair of arms 26, 28 extend inwardly from the body 20 and are spaced apart from one another. The dishwasher 10 includes a tub having a flange 30 extending at least on opposite sides of the tub. The arms 26, 28 of the trim strip 18 are adapted to be slidably press fit onto the tub flange 30 for a frictional fit therewith, as best seen in FIG. 2. The first leg includes an outer portion 32 and an inner portion 34. Each of the outer and inner portions 32, 34 includes a reduced thickness area 36 through which a screw 35 is inserted for securing the leg 22 to the side of the cabinet 12, as shown in FIG. 2. A hole 37 may be provided in the reduced thickness areas 36 of the leg 22 for the screws 35. The reduced thickness areas 36 allow the head of the screw 35 to be recessed with respect to the surface 38 of the leg 22.

[0020] The length of the leg 22 allows the dishwasher to be installed in two positions relative to the cabinets 12. First, the dishwasher 10 can be mounted so as to be flush with the cabinet facia 40, in which case, the fall length of the leg 22 is used, with the screw 35 being installed through the outer portion 32 of the leg 22. As a second option, the dishwasher 10 can be moved slightly forward, so as to be flush with the cabinet door 42, in which case the leg 22 is cut at an indicia or notch 44, so as to remove the outer leg portion 32. The screw 35 then extends through the inner portion 34 of the leg 22 to secure the trim strip 18 to the cabinet 12.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the trim strip 18 includes a resilient leaf-type seal 46 extending forwardly from the first arm 26. The seal 46 provides a sealing engagement with the dishwasher door 48 when the door is closed, so as to enhance sound proofing of the dishwasher 10. The seal 46 may take other configurations, such as a bulb seal.

[0022] An alternative embodiment trim strip 18A is shown in FIG. 5. The trim strip 18A is similar to the trim strip 18, though does not include the seal 46. The leg 22A also does not include the notch 44, since the trim strip 18A is reversible. Thus, when the dishwasher is to be mounted flush with the cabinet facia 40, the arms 26A, 28A are slidably mounted on the tub flange, with the longer leg 22A extending forwardly for securement to the cabinet 12. When the dishwasher 10 is to be mounted flush with the cabinet doors 42, the trim strip is turned 180° so that the shorter second leg 24A extends forwardly for securement to the cabinet 12. Thus, there is no need to cut off a portion of the leg 22A in order to accommodate the two installation positions of the dishwasher when using the alternative embodiment trim strip 18A. The legs have reduced thickness portions 36A with holes 37A to receive a screw, similar to the trim strip 18.

[0023] Preferably, the trim strips 18, 18A are extruded from a plastic material, such as PVC. More particularly, the trim strip body 20 is extruded from relatively rigid PVC, and the seal 46 is co-extruded from flexible PVC.

[0024] With the trim strips 18, 18A of the present invention, the gap 16 between the dishwasher 10 and the cabinets 12 is covered to provide a more finished appearance when the dishwasher door 48 is open.

[0025] This mounting arrangement allows the dishwasher 10 to be secured to the side walls of the cabinet 12 without any attachment to the underside of the countertop 14. This feature is an improvement over previous designs that generally required attachment to the countertop 14 and is of particular importance in new housing where the countertop 14 may be fabricated from materials such as granite or marble.

[0026] The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the aforegoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A trim strip for a dishwasher to be placed within an opening between cabinets, the dishwasher having a tub with opposite sides and a tub flange extending outwardly along each of the opposite sides, and a door hinged to the tub for movement between open and closed positions, the trim strip comprising: an elongated body having opposite forward and rearward edges; a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the body and being adapted to slidably receive the tub flange; the body being secured to one of the cabinets so as to cover a space between one cabinet and the tub.
 2. The trim strip of claim 1 further comprising a resilient seal extending from one of the arms and adapted to engage the door when the door is in the closed position.
 3. The trim strip of claim 1 wherein the body has first and second legs extending oppositely from the arms.
 4. The trim strip of claim 3 wherein the first leg is longer than the second leg.
 5. The trim strip of claim 3 wherein the first leg is secured to the cabinet.
 6. The trim strip of claim 3 wherein the legs have different lengths, and the trim strip can be oriented in a first position with the first leg extending forwardly and a second position with the second leg extending forwardly.
 7. The trim strip of claim 3 wherein the first leg has a reduced thickness portion for receiving a screw such that a head of the screw is recessed therein.
 8. The trim strip of claim 3 wherein the first leg includes an indicia for cutting off a portion of the leg.
 9. The trim strip of claim 1 wherein the body and arms are extruded.
 10. The trim strip of claim 1 wherein the body has pre-formed holes adapted to receive screws for securement to the cabinet.
 11. A dishwasher trim strip for spanning a gap between the dishwasher and an adjacent cabinet, comprising: a body adapted to be secured to the cabinet; and a first arm extending inwardly from the cabinet in overlapping relation to a flange on the dishwasher.
 12. The trim strip of claim 11 wherein a second arm extends inwardly from the body and is spaced closely to the first arm to define a space therebetween adapted to receive a dishwasher flange.
 13. The trim strip of claim 11 further comprising a resilient seal on the first arm adapted to sealingly engage a door of the dishwasher when the door is closed.
 14. The trim strip of claim 11 wherein the body has first and second legs extending in opposite directions, and the body is reversible on the cabinet such that either the first or second leg extends forwardly for securement to the cabinet.
 15. The trim strip of claim 11 wherein the body has a reduced thickness portion for receiving a screw such that a head of the screw is recessed.
 16. The trim strip of claim 11 has a notch for indicating a segment of the body for removal.
 17. The trim strip of claim 11 wherein the body and arm is extruded. 